Nevada County picayune., 1887-09-22
A DANGEROUS GUEST.

The party, though small, was d very brilliant one; and as the night was lovely, and the spacious grounds sprinkled with starlight and flowers, we all emerged from the stately mansion into the open air, and were soon scattered iu knots, here and there, enjoying the soft, balmy breezes that.were whis. perlng through the summer les yes. and gazing on the miniature lake f m Central Park, close by, that, in the s1lvery beams of the rising mooH, had ust begun to sparkle as though it were some gigantic jewel scintllating in the bosom of the landscape.
 During the evening 1 had been presented to several ladies of ex- ceeding beauty and of great wealth, among whom l noted one of such snrpasslng loveliness that, now, as l chanced to perceive her lean, ing on the arm of my friend Fred, erick--the son of our generous host-l thought him one of the most fortunate fellows in the world; for l could comprehend that his heart and that of the ex qnsite and accomplished creature by his side were entangled in the meshes of the same silken net.
 Frederick was a very handsome fellow of about twenty seven, while Miss r., or "the beauti ful Florence' -aS she was some times callcd-lad just completed her twenty first year. They were engaged in low and earnest con. versation as they sauntered close by secluded arbor to which had uncOusciously wandered and where found a solitary seat. From the denseness of the foliage that sur. rounded me, they passed without observing me, and left me to a train of thought which 1 was pur- suing, when the entrance of the ar. Dor was suddenly darkened by the figure of a man, who had just dart. ed across the rustic path out of q clump of eyergreens. Iperceived at a glance that he was not one of the guests, for he wore thick boots, a slouched hat and course pea jacket; while single glimpse of his heavy under jaw and huge, rough hands, not to speak of his massive, low heap of form, in duced me to steal cautiously from where l sat and conceal myself behind the trunk of tree that stood within the leafy groto.
 had been secretrd here hut a few seconds, when the man, who appeared to be intensely watching the young couple who had just gone down the walk, uttered sup. pressed exclamation, and the next instant second figure stood in the opening also. This time, howev- CT. it was that of a woman, beautl- tifuI as the day, but with an eX- pression of cuuntenance so tiend' ish. that, the moment she threw back the hood of the mantle that cnveloped her whole form and re- vealed her features in the tender lustre that fell upon them, l had almost betrayed myself, so great was my surprise. On making some observation to the man which 1 was unable to hear, she suddenly drew him deeper into the erotto, until they both stood with in single yard of me, in almost impenetrable gloom. Here, aftel a brief pause, she exclaimed, in a voice which, although suppresse d, seemed terribly cruel and excited
 Have you seen them? have you seen them? They passed but q few moments since, and alone! Caston, you have deceived me! ll this remote part of the grounds winch l knew they would seek you might have done the work from behind securely and without detection, for you could have es- capped the moment she fell. An' here was the point that you your self selected. 1 have been drawn toward the spot l can't tell how
 Why did you not strike? He would not have deserted her tC pursue you! After them, man! al ter them, and avenge me, if you would have wealth and the protec tiou of one who can almost set tho